Notice: Brief will not publish on Nov. 22.
- Help, hope, and even some humor for an often hidden illness.
- Awards and Recognition: Announcing the recipients of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award; and more.
Help, hope, and even some humor for an often hidden illness
Imagine never being able to stray far from the nearest bathroom. A Sunday stroll around one of Minneapolis’ lakes is simply out of the question. That, Rhona Shwaid says, is a snapshot of her private struggle with ulcerative colitis. It was her shrinking world for far too long, but not anymore, thanks to life-changing surgery from a University of Minnesota Medical School and M Health Fairview doctor.
Awards and Recognition
Announcing the recipients of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award; U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media.
Nov. 16 - Give to the Max Day
Join your colleagues and the University-wide community during the University of Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day. Show your U of M pride by using #UMNGive on social media and support your favorite University causes at givingday.umn.edu. Your support will go even further because of special one-day matches, and a gift or social media shoutout could win your U of M cause up to $50,000 in bonus donations.
Improve patient outcomes and experiences through RapidEval Unit testing
Test your idea for improving healthcare delivery with support from research experts. The RapidEval Program within the Center for Learning Health System Sciences is accepting proposals through Nov. 22. Specific areas of interest include projects focusing on chronic disease management, transitions of care, and patient-centered care.
Remote access: Staying healthy in rural America
Contemporary rural America has serious health challenges that can be hard to spot. The School of Public Health is addressing these challenges through research and outreach, studying often hard-to-see health problems in-depth and collaborating with local communities to generate solutions. Carrie Henning-Smith, associate professor and deputy director of the Rural Health Research Center, says that rural health issues add up to “a very long list, and they’re interrelated, which is what makes the situation so complex.”
Honoring service and sacrifice through Minnesota 4-H
The faces in Zach Wesley's 4-H exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair are gone now, with the passing of the last known World War II veterans from his hometown of Dassel, MN. Wesley memorialized the veterans in a series of panels depicting the 13 soldiers in uniform and, for most, later in life. Most poignant are the photographs of those who never again saw Dassel. "They were all models of selflessness," says Wesley, a student in the U of M Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering.
Talking adult family dynamics with U of M
As we head into the winter holiday season and the many gatherings with immediate and extended family that this season can bring, College of Education and Human Development family therapist and professor Tai Mendenhall shares his expertise about how to navigate adult family dynamics. See more editions of "Talking with U of M."
Student served her country before pursuing bachelor's degree
Kathryn Brainerd, a senior from Corcoran, MN, is pursuing a bachelor's degree in natural resources with an emphasis in park management. But before Brainerd set foot on campus, she spent more than five years traveling the world with the United States Navy.
U of M Crookston honors two at Torch & Shield event
U of M Crookston recently held its biennial Torch & Shield donor recognition banquet and awards ceremony. Professor Emeritus Albert Sims and the Crookston Baseball Association were awarded and recognized for their support of the University.
Soil compaction science
UMD’s civil engineering students get hands-on experience in soil compaction by conducting lab experiments in a soil mechanics class. Data is gathered by dropping heavily weighted hammers inside steel piping onto molds filled with soil. The students learn about the percentage of compaction and water content levels important in designing foundations and structures, from bridges to high-rise buildings.
Artificial intelligence for good
Arshia Khan, computer science professor and researcher, along with Tom Stevens (Tombot, Inc.) and Moojan Ghafurian (University of Waterloo), will present “Cognitively Assistive Robots for Dementia Care” as part of the AI for Good international webinar series. The United Nations invited Khan and her colleagues to present this worldwide broadcast. The event highlights Khan’s progress in using robots to enhance social interaction and mental well-being for individuals living with dementia. Nov. 28. Register and learn more.
Nov. 17-19 - Searching for Home
UMD’s rendition of Steven Dietz’s play Still Life with Iris is a fantastical adventure featuring a young girl on a quest to recover her stolen memories in the whimsical world of Nocturno. The play explores the magic of memory, human resilience, and human connection. Learn more and see performance information.
Music takes the stage
Students in the Department of Music will bring sounds to the season with an Opera Concert on Nov. 17, the Chamber Orchestra on Nov. 18, a Student Woodwind Concert on Nov. 19, the UMD Percussion Ensemble on Nov. 21, the Big Band Jazz Ensemble on Nov 29, the UMD Orchestra on Dec. 1, the Concert and Symphonic Bands on Dec. 2, and a Choir Concert on Dec. 3.
Nov. 17-18 - Dance Ensemble 30th anniversary performance
The U of M Morris Dance Ensemble's 30th anniversary show is a chance to watch students perform student-choreographed dances in one of the biggest events of the semester. Find tickets and see the schedule.
Nov. 18 - Native American teach-in at U of M Morris
U of M Morris will hold a teach-in about the history and impact of Native American boarding schools, including the ones that operated on the Morris campus site. Gabe Desrosiers, Anishinaabe, and Dorothy Jeffery and Dennis Jeffy, Diné, are scheduled to give educational presentations. Note: Sandy White Hawk has had to cancel her participation. 8:45 a.m., 109 Imholte Hall. Register and learn more.
Nov. 18 - Mini-Medieval Renaissance Festival
The Office of Community Engagement and the French 1803 class will hold a Mini-Medieval Renaissance Festival at the Morris Public Library, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Activities for all ages will include painting, story time, coloring, dragon crafts, trivia, comedy, theater, snacks, medieval cuisine, and more. Come as you are or in costume.
State of the Campus
The Rochester community celebrated UMR’s annual State of the Campus event on Nov. 8 with the theme “Partners Make it Possible.” Attendees included Interim President Jeff Ettinger, Regent Ruth Johnson, Executive Director of Government and Community Relations Melisa López Franzen, and local elected officials. Political, philanthropic, employer, research, and facilities partners, together with students, shared stories of the impact of partnerships, with a video endorsement of UMR innovation from Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Fourth edition of alumni magazine The Kettle released
UMR recently released the fourth edition of its alumni magazine The Kettle. A term derived from the field observation of hawks, “kettle” means a group of soaring raptors. The magazine showcases stories of UMR graduates’ achievements and growing impact. This year’s edition features alumni tackling global health advocacy, faculty and staff who challenge growth and learning in students, and more.
Give to the Max features UMR student emergency fund
This year, U of M Rochester has a special focus for Give to the Max Day: highlighting the Sahra Gesaade UMR Student Emergency Fund in remembrance of the beautiful life of UMR student Sahra Gesaade. This fund supports UMR students who experience unexpected financial needs that could affect their ability to continue their college education.
Community Fund Drive results
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Community Fund Drive. Together, we raised more than $1 million for the community, and 13 percent of Twin Cities faculty and staff participated in the campaign. Whether you made a donation, participated in one of your department’s events, or showed your support in other ways, the community and the University thanks you.
Maps that shaped the world
As premodern voyagers returned from overseas expeditions, bringing strange tales from strange lands, their perspectives changed how Europeans viewed the world and their relationship to it. The James Ford Bell Library’s newest exhibit, “Eyes on the World: Cartography in the Age of Sail,” reveals the ever-shifting outlooks on the globe from the 15th through 18th centuries.
The power of place
Costa Rica is a second home for Jennifer Powers, a plant and microbial biology professor in the College of Biological Sciences. Her ties to the country go back three decades starting when she was a graduate student taking field courses. Now a recognized leader in her field, she runs a field station within the Area de Conservación Guanacaste in the northwest corner of the country. Powers received the University Award for Global Engagement earlier this year in recognition of her work in the region.
Healing the wounded mountain
Long before becoming an ecologist, Maowei Liang recalls being deeply affected by the tangible ways his village in Inner Mongolia experienced global change. But it wasn’t until he witnessed the mountains near his village being blasted and excavated for industry use that he decided to take steps toward a lifelong sustainable career. Learn more by reading and watching a video about a day in the field at Cedar Creek with Maowei Liang.
Through Nov. 17 - Employee Shopping Days at MN Alumni Market
The U of M Alumni Association’s MN Alumni Market is running a special in-person shopping deal for U of M employees, including $5 off a purchase of $25. Located inside McNamara Alumni Center, the MN Alumni Market is the first and only store in the country to exclusively support alumni-owned businesses and services. Email Nancy Gross for alumni-made gift ideas, custom orders, or bulk discounts for the holidays or other events. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Featured events
Nov. 17 - Oral History Workshop led by Aiden Bettine
Nov. 18 - Spotlight Science: Brain Power
Nov. 20 - Quie and Peterson Global Health Lecture
Nov. 24-Dec. 3 - Cirque du Soleil: ’Twas the Night Before…
Nov. 29 - People and Planet: Cleantech Catalysts from Ambition to Action